Showing posts with label Turi tribe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Turi tribe. Show all posts
Tuesday, 27 June 2023
Kurram valley in late 19th century (historical photos)
Sunday, 4 June 2023
Group of Pashtun tribesmen of hills, 1879
Group of Pashtun tribesmen of hills, 1879 (c). Photo by John Burke.
I could not ascertain the exact identity of the men in photo. According to one source they are from Waziristan while according to another source they are Turis from Kurram valley. The design of the turbans resembles those of the Dawars (of North Waziristan) in 19th century. Refer to this 19th century sketch of Dawars:
Sunday, 13 February 2022
Plates from "Gun-running and the Indian north-west frontier" by Keppel Arnold
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| Afridi tribesmen, 1910. |
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| Mahsud Maliks, 1910. |
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| Turi tribesmen, 1910. |
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| Orakzai tribesmen, 1910. |
Saturday, 29 January 2022
Sunday, 12 September 2021
The ziarat of Sayyid Fakhr-i-Alam, Kirman, Kurram valley, 1895 (c)
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| The ziarat of Sayyid Fakhr-i-Alam, Kirman, Kurram valley, 1895 (c) |
Sunday, 10 January 2021
Turis of the Kurram valley, 1911
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| Turis of the Kurram valley, 1911. Source: "Gun-running and the Indian North-West Frontier" by Arnold Keppel. |
Friday, 10 January 2020
Kurram valley
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| Kurram valley, N.W.F.P, 1943. From a painting by James Fletcher Watson. |
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| A beautiful map of Kurram agency during the British times. Photo courtesy: Elie Gohar Durrani |
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| At the gate of Ahmedzai (a Turi village in Kurram district), 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore. |
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| Shalozan, Kurram valley, 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore. |
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| Tower in the village of Sadda, Kurram valley, 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore. |
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| Watermill at Sadda, Kurram valley, 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore. |
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| The Chinar trees at Shalozan (Kurram district), 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore. |
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| Looking down the Kuram Valley near Ahmedzai, 1895 (c). Frederick Saint John Gore. |
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| "Turi nobles and holy men", Kurram, 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore. |
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| "Marukhel village and the Safed Koh ['Spin Ghar]", Kurram valley, 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore. |
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| Early morning at the villages of Shoblan (Kurram district, KP), 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore. |
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| Border village of Kanda, Kirman (Kurram district), 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore. |
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| Decoy ducks in Kurram, Spin Ghar range in the distance, 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore. |
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| Early morning at the villages of Shoblan (Kurram district, KP), 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore. |
Monday, 25 February 2019
Bangash, Turi, Waziri, 1827-1843
Bangash, Turi, Waziri, 1827-1843. By Imam Bakhsh Lahori, Illustrations des Mémoires du général Claude-Auguste Court, Lahore. Courtesy : catherine
Thursday, 8 June 2017
The Faqir of Ipi and the Pashtunistan Movement
Mirza Ali Khan, alias the Faqir of Ipi, the renowned adversary of the British Raj, did not buy into the idea of Pakistan. On May 12, 1948, he published and issued an anti-Pakistan poster from his headquarters at Gurweik. In the poster, he declared Pakistan a creation of the British and Muhammad Ali Jinnah a British agent. He further declared that he would start an operation against the Government of Pakistan.
In June 1948, the Faqir of Ipi gathered a lashkar (armed force) and attacked and then occupied the Datta Khel Khassadar post in the Tochi valley. Like its British predecessors, Pakistan resorted to dealing with them by using the Air Force against them. The Pakistan Air Force dropped bombs on the villages of the participating Shabi Khel Mahsuds and also directly on the lashkar that had occupied the Khassadar post
On 12th August 1949, a number of Afridi tribesmen and their Sarishta party met at Tirah Bagh, the centre of their homeland. The flag of "Independent Pakhtunistan" was hoisted and and a declaration made by the "Pakhtunistan National Assembly" (Tirah branch) was published, addressed to all the people of Pakhtunistan, to the entire Muslim world and particularly Afghanistan, to all Pakhtuns living abroad and to the United Nations Organization. Their proclamation read;
"We the Tirah branch of of the National Assembly of Pakhtunistan having formed the first nucleus of a free and democratic Muslim government amidst the lofty mountains of Tirah, hereby express the hope that with the help of Almighty Allah and the support of the brave and freedom loving Pakhtuns , this young plant will in a short time grow into a sturdy and fruitful tree which will not only benefit Pakhtunistan (from Chitral to Balochistan and from the Khyber and Bolan to the banks of Indus) but will also fulfill its obligation towards the progress and peace of the world".
In a broadcast from Radio Kabul, this proclamation was greeted with great enthusiasm in Afghanistan, which it's Government announced that it was extending immediate recognition and support. In the same month a jirga of the different tribes of Waziristan visited Kabul with the consent of the Faqir of Ipi. The jirga was assured by the Afghan authorities of all form of assistance.
In order to propagate the idea of Pakhtunistan , the Faqir of Ipi published Pashto pamphlets and a Pashto newspaper, "The Ghazi" from Gurwek. Maulana Muhammad Waris Shah, Maulana Habib-ur-Rehman , Maulana Din Muhammad, Babu Haji Khan and Muhammad Zahir Shah were on the editorial board of the paper. Following is a translation of the "Ghazi"dated 9th December 1949;
"From August 15, 1947, when the British appointed Mr. Jinnah as the Governor- General of Pakistan, the Pir of Manki, Pir of Zakori, Doctor Khan Sahib, Abdul Ghaffar Khan and other prominent figures amongst Pakhtuns raised their voice for the introduction of Shariat and freedom for Pakhtunistan. But against these demands, intending to bring Pakhtuns under slavery with the help of gold and bayonets, the so-called Islamic Government began to promote the religion of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani and continued the enforcement of the British supremacy. The Pakhtuns are like one body and cannot be divided into two. Generosity and sense of honour is the heritage of Pakhtuns. They also have the sharpest sword in their possession. Despite 14 years of continued bombardment by the Britishers, the people of Waziristan did not accept slavery. Be courageous, like the Faqir of Ipi who did not flee from the battlefield during the past 14 years. However, two are the major defects (i) the introduction of man-made laws, and (ii) encroachment upon the legal rights of Pakhtuns. According to the holy Quran Qital is permissible. One who dies in that way will be a Shaheed .... We will either achieve freedom or will bring destruction for the whole of the country. Long live Pakhtunistan , long live Afghanistan".
Meetings of various tribes of Waziristan, Khattaks, Marwats, Bhittanis, Turis and Bannuchis were held on January 11, 12 and 15, 1950 for the election of Pakhtunistan National Assembly (Waziristan Branch) and its President. The Assembly thus elected unanimously decided to have the Faqir of Ipi as its first president. In that capacity the Faqir demanded the withdrawal of Pakistani forces from the Pakhtun territories to free the land of seven million Pakhtun, otherwise they will be themselves responsible for its consequences. He also appealed to the United Nations for recognition of Pakhtunistan and requested the Afghan authorities for its publicity.
In August 1951, a special delegation consisting of Malik Abdullah Khan Mada Khel, Malik Atta Mohammad Khan, Malik Behram, Malik Jani and Malik Badshahi with a special message from the Faqir of Ipi visited Kabul and met with Muhammad Zahir Shah, the then King of Afghanistan, the late Sardar Daud khan and the ambassadors of India and Iran.
In 1952 when Malik Wali Khan Kuki Khel, Malik Said Khan Zakha Khel and Maulvi Ghairat Gul of J.U.I called a Jirga of the Afridis , at Mamanri to take decisions about Pakhtunistan, Pakistan Air Force bombed the assembly which caused 18 casualties. After 3 days the house of Malik Wali Khan Kuki Khel was destroyed.
In 1954, Christopher Rand, a correspondent of The New York was able to interview the Faqir of Ipi at Gurwek. Shortly afterwards, two Soviet officials, Messrs Alexovitch and Demrovitch, members of a Soviet technical mission at Kabul, called upon the Faqir of Ipi at his Gurwek headquarters.
In 1952-53, the flow of money to Gurwek from Afghan Government was greatly reduced due to some misunderstanding between the Faqir and the Pakhtunistan leaders based in Kabul. However, through Faiz Mohammad, the Afghan Wali (Governor) of the Southern province, the subsidies were restored. Faqir of Ipi's influence and power suffered a significant blow when his close associate and principal lieutenant Khalifa Mehr Dil Khattak surrendered to Pakistani officials in Bannu (November 1954) along with seven followers.
On March 27, 1955, the Pakistani Government promulgated the ordinance creating "One Unit" in West Pakistan. The Afghan Government considered it as a move to destroy the identity of the Eastern Pakhtuns. The reaction culminated in an inflammatory speech by Afghan Prime Minister, Sardar Daud Khan, on March 28. The next day, Afghan mobs sacked Pakistani diplomatic mission building at Jalalabad and Kandahar and the Pakistan Embassy at Kabul. A retaliatory attack was made few days later on the Afghan Consulate at Peshawar. Pakistan clamped a blockade on Afghan Imports and exports. A Mahsud jirga in South Waziristan during a meeting of Maliks, claiming to represent 10,000 North Waziristan tribesmen ostentatiously asked permission to march on Kabul to avenge the national honour. During the time between 1956 and 1958, the tension was eased as Iskandar Mirza, the then President of Pakistan, exchanged State visits with Muhammad Zahir Shah.
It was reported in October 1958 that "the Faqir of Ipi who was the pivot of the so-called Pakhtunistan Movement.... has recently turned absolutely indifferent, if not openly hostile to Afghanistan, the reason being that the Afghans realized the futility of their monetary aid to him and stopped paying the tribes through him. He has discarded the so-called Pakhtunistan Flag and has hoisted instead his own flag which is called “Faqir Flag.” Maulvi Amir Saeed alias Jangi Mullah, and Maulvi Akbar Zaman Bannuchi, the close associates of the Faqir, distributed in the Hamzoni Dawar area the copies of newspaper "The Azad Pakhtun" published at Gurwek. The paper, inter alia, published the details of the Faqir’s tour in Wazirstan. "Amir-ul-Muslimeen (the Faqir) along with his lieutenants is on his tour to Waziristan. Presently his tour has good effects on the Bhittani tribe as well as on other tribes. A number of old disputes were settled among the Wazirs, Mahsuds and Bhittanis. A large number of weapons and cash was collected for the Faqir’s exchequer in the Mahsud territory". Though during his tour, the Faqir remained silent about Pakistan, but he never turned pro-Pakistan.
After his tour of Waziristan, he remained confined largely to a cliff-side cave at Gurwek, and on 16th April 1960, he died of asthma. His funeral prayers were attended by thousands of people and his funeral prayers were led by Maulvi Pir Rehman.
Reference: "Some major Pukhtoon tribes along the Pak-Afghan border", by S. Iftikhar Hussain
Fighters of Faqir of Ipi carrying their martyred fellow, Waziristan. From ''Wide World" magazine, 1944.
Faqir of Ipi's cannons at Gurwek (North Waziristan) used in the Jihad against the British. Source: "Farangi Raj aur ghairatmand musalman" by Dr. Muhammad Nawaz Khan Mehsud
Tochi scouts, with two Sapper officers in attendance, demolishing the headquarters of the Faqir of Ipi near Arsal Kot, Waziristan, 1936 (c). Source: 'The Frontier Scouts' by Charles Trench.
Gurweik
Wednesday, 9 December 2015
Turi tribe of Kurram
The Turi tribe, hold the tract known as Kurram on both sides of the stream of that name, lying north of Khost and south of Koh-i-Sufaid. There is some doubt as to the lineage and race of this tribe and the Jaji .
1- The Turis themselves have two stories as to their origin, one of which is that they were formerly settled in Persia, but, troubles breaking out, Toghani Turk, the common ancestor of the Turis and Jajis, fled eastward and eventually settled at Nilab ; while the other story states that they came originally from Samarkand to Nilab. Both of these stories, though differing as to the original habitat of the tribe, are agreed that the tribe claims descent from a Turk, named Toghani. The "Badshah-nama" refers to different tribes which joined in the attack on Peshawar and calls the Afghan tribes as 'Ulus' but the Jajis and Turis are mentioned as 'Imak'. Both are Turkish words, but while 'Ulus' has been commonly used for the Afghan tribes, 'Imak' is never used except for the tribes of Turk descent. The distinction points to their Turkish extraction.
2- At one occasion Khushal Khan Khattak in his diary (Biaz) mentions the Turis as well the Jajis as the Karlanris. Based on this statement, some of the elders of the Turi and Jaji clans have traced their descent to Khughianaey, son of Kodaey, son of Karan. Hayat Khan Kathar gives weigh-age to Khushal Khan Khattak's Biaz and includes them in the Khugiani tribe. He remarks, "Both in language and character, they are not be distinguished from Afghan, and indeed possess the Afghan haughtiness and martial spirit in an unusually high degree." [2].Turi is earliest mention of a Pashtun tribal name. In Tarikh-i-nama-i-Herat (written in 1318 AD) "Ahmad Turi" (احمد توری) is mentioned as one of the leading Afghan chieftains of 13th century Afghanistan (1255 AD events). They are styled as "Maluk-i-Azam" (ملوک عظام) i.e Chief Maliks of Afghanistan. ["Tarikh-nama-i-Herat" of Saif bin Muhammad bin Yaqub Harvi, Urdu translation by Prof.Sultan Altaf Ali, p-196]
3- Some give out that Turi and Jaji were two brothers of the Mond stock of the Awan race, settled on the eastern bank of the Indus. For some reason they left their kinsmen and moved to the west bank of the Indus. In the summer they used to migrate to Kurram valley and in winter return to the plains in the Nilab area on the eastern bank of the Indus. Gradually they made inroads in the Kurram valley and later settled down permanently, displacing some of the smaller Bangash clans. Their progeny prospered and ousted the original inhabitants of the area in the Kurram and occupied their lands. Their descendants are known as the Turis and Jajis respectively. The Awans of the Jhelum District, who claim descent from one Qutab Shah, a former ruler of Herat, state that the Jajis and Turis are also descended from him but by a Turki wife. ["Hstory of the Pathans", By Haroon Rashid, Vol-4, p-500"]
Whatever may be the origin of the tribe, there is little doubt that, at some period or other, they were settled at Nilab, but probably only as nomads, migrating annually from thence to the Kurram valley. During one of their annual migrations, a quarrel broke out between the tribe and the Bangash owners of Kurram. At this time: the Jajis and Turis were united, and the first assault made on the Bangash took place in Hariab valley, which the Jajis seized. From Hariab the tribe descended into the Kurram valley, the Jajis taking Jaji Maidan and the Turis the main Kurram valley below Karlachi. The first place taken by the Turis was Burkhi, then Paiwar , after which Shalozan was besieged, but the Bangash, who withstood all attacks, compromised and became Turi hamsayas. Thus, by degrees, the Turis made themselves masters of the whole valley. The Emperor Babar, writing so far back as 1506 A.D., mentions the Buri (undoubtedly a misprint for Turi) inhabitants of the valley. [7]
Turis and Jajis are mentioned by Abu Fazal in "Akbar-nama", that their tribal chiefs, along with chiefs of Khalil, Mohmand, Gagyani, Sherzad, Khizr-Khel, Abdur-Rehmani and others of Ghurghust and Ghoria Khel septs, represented to Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1586 AD who was staying at Attock, to complain about Yoasufzais. [3]
There are five principal clans of the Turi;
1- Hamza Khel
2- Mastu Khel
3- Dapparzai
4- Alizai
5- Ghundi Khel
Kurram which is wholly irrigated by the stream of the same name that flows through it, was formerly in the occupation of Bangash, from whom the Turi took it by force. Many Bangash are still found living in subjection to the Turi in Kurram, and the Buwalimin of lower Kurram are considered a branch of Bangash.
Contrary to the Khyber tribes, the tribes inhabiting the Kurram had traditionally paid revenues to the Saddozai rulers. Already during his first reign, Amir Dost Muhammad Khan Barakzai, began to raise demands for revenue in Kurram and adjacent regions. Kurram was known for its comparative fertility. Apart from wheat, the valley produced high quality rice exported to Bannu and Kabul. The Turis were overwhelmingly Shias. This led to the rise of four dominant families of Sayyids, to one of which each Turi was linked as a disciple. Otherwise, there was no entrenched leadership. The typical Turi was described as an absolute democrat. The historical sources mentions a few prominent families without furnishing great detail on their political activities. In the 1850s, Malik Zarif of Paiwar was an important ally of Sardar Muhammad Azam Khan. The Malik of Shalozan was linked to the court by a marriage alliance with Amir Dost Muhammad Khan. [4]
Throughout the reign of Dost Muhammad Khan, reports of rebellions in Kurram reached the capital of Kabul. In great part this resistance can be seen as reaction to the revenue collecting 'raids' conducted by the Afghan governor at irregular intervals. In 1851, for example, the Turis took possession of the fort at the Paiwar pass for three months. Their rebellion only came to an end when Amir Dost Muhammad Khan dispatched Sardar Muhammad Azam Khan with a strong force to the region. Three years later, 8,000 Turis blockaded the same pass. During the ensuing military confrontation at the Paiwar pass, the Turis suffered a decisive defeat. In March 1856, The Turis were assisted by son of Sardar Muhammad Azam Khan against the insurrections by the neighboring Khostwals and Darwesh Khel wazirs. In April 1857, Ghulam Muhammad Khan reported that an insurrection of the nearby Jajis had been " suppressed amicably" by the Turi maliks. A year later Sardar Muhammad Azam Khan was assisted by Malik Zarif of Paiwar against the rebellious population of Baliyamin in adjacent Miranzai. [5]
During Amir Sher Ali's reign, Kurram was governed by Amir's half brother Wali Muhammad Khan, whose mother was a Turi, from 1869 on. In 1876, Wali Muhammad Khan was dismissed from the governorship of Kurram, due to complaints of the maliks of Kurram.
The Kabul government from Kurram was ejected by the British in 1879 during the second Anglo-Afghan War. The Turis welcomed the British and gave them full support. A year or two later British forces were withdrawn from the valley .The British Government, however, announced to the Amir, that Kurram would be regarded as a British protectorate. The valley was re-occupied by the British the valley in 1892. A strong force of Militia, in which the Turis form the principal element, was raised in 1893. It had throughout been staunch and reliable to British with credit in 1897 , it stood firm in 1919 during the Third Anglo-Afghan War when most of the other irregular corps, the Khyber Rifles, and North and South Wazirstan Militias, mutinied or deserted. [6]
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| A Turi, 1827-1843. By Imam Bakhsh Lahori, Illustrations des Mémoires du général Claude-Auguste Court, Lahore. |
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| Turi tribesmen of the Kurram valley, 1910 |
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| Shepherds in the Kurrum Valley, 1919 |
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| Ghulam Khan, a Subadar of the Kurram Militia, 1908 (c). Watercolour by Major Alfred Crowdy Lovett. Source |
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| War dance of the Turis, Kurram valley, March 7, 1903. From "The Graphic". "They [Turis] have a peculiar war dance, which is executed at any great gathering of the tribe. The ground is cleared, and musicians come on the scene, with drums and shricking pipes, to entice the young bloods to take part in the performance. Once started, the dance provides strenuous exertion for those engaged." |
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| A jirga under the shadow of a large tree, at Parachinar (Kurram district), 1929. . Source |
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| The Malik of Aravali shows off his six shooter next to a Wapiti aircraft, Kurram district, 1929. Source |
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| "Turi nobles and holy men", Kurram, 1895 (c). Photo by Frederick Saint John Gore. |
Notes and References:
2- Muhammad Hayat Khan, "Afghanistan and its inhabitants", p-227
3- Raverty, "Notes on Afghanistan", p-44
4- "Christine Noelle, "State and Tribe in Nineteenth-Century Afghanistan", p-174
5- Ibid, p-175
6- "Sir William Barton, "India's North-West frontier" p-52
7-" Frontier and Overseas expeditions from India, Vol-2, p-305
Thursday, 23 October 2014
Pashtun Tribesmen and the 1948 Kashmir Conflict
On October 22, 1947, Pashtun tribesmen entered Kashmir from Pakistan, in response to the mass killing of Muslims in Jammu and in support of insurgents of Poonch, with logistical support from the Government of Pakistan. On October 24, the insurgents in Poonch formally declared independence as the state of Azad Kashmir.
The Muslims, who constituted 61 percent of the population of Jammu region, were reduced to a minority after the killings and displacement by Dogra army (and the forces from Patiala Punjab and RSS who were called in). Five days after the Jammu killings, Pashtun tribesmen invaded Kashmir. https://scroll.in/article/811468/the-killing-fields-of-jammu-when-it-was-muslims-who-were-eliminated
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Tribal irregulars from the North West Frontier bound for Kashmir, 1947. From an album, collated and annotated by Lt Frank Leeson, relates to his service during 1946-1947 with the North Waziristan Khassadars, a force of tribal police engaged in protecting communications and military outposts in the Tribal Territory.. [Source: National Army Museum, London] |
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| Late Senator Malik Gulab Khan Mahsud (Sub tribe Ishangi) was chief of Behlolzai tribe. He participated in Kashmir war of 1948 and received Hilal-i-Kashmir and Tamgha-i-Kashmir for his role in that war. Source |
In this report published in BBC, Hussain Gul, then a soldier of Paramilitary Kurram Militia, shares his experiences of that war:-
"Hussain Gul, a resident of Shalozan village in the Kurram tribal region who was then a soldier of the paramilitary Kurram Militia, was part of that force.
"We were there to attack and recapture [the 2,800-metre] Pandu ridge which the Indians had occupied during autumn," he says.
"It was a good victory. We were able to occupy a considerable part of Kashmir but we still lost most of it. It made one feel sad, like when you lose a part of your house,"
His father, who went in with a band of friends to fight during the previous season, "came back defeated".
"They brought back war booty though; gold and some women," he chuckles.
In his mid-90s now, and with a fading memory, he is not sure what happened to the women. As for gold, "they were cheated out of it by Majoor", an ethnic Hazara businessman in Parachinar, the central town of Kurram.
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| The picture on Hussain Gul's Kurram militia's ID |
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| Kazi Abdul Sarir (Abakhail) from South Waziristan (Makin) brought 28 fighters to the 1947-48 war of Kashmir. He received the title of Sher-i-Kashmir from the Government of Pakistan and a certificate from the Government of Azad Kashmir acknowledging his services. The certificate says he and his men fought well in the battle at Naushera (Kashmir). |
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| Sanad issued by the government of Azad Kashmir to Khalifa Sultan Jan Niazi (Mirali Khel), son of Mullah Nazeem, of Dera Ismail Khan, acknowledging his services in the 1947-48 war of Kashmir. He brought 190 fighters to the war. Photos of his sons. |
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